Stamp

Yay - my illustration for 2minutebeachclean has been published in the great Uppercase magazine - issue 26! The brief was to design your ideal postage stamp and seeing as I am slightly obsessed with beach cleaning, I decided it was a good idea to highlight this cause.
Thanks for including my work Janine.

still a bit early

I had to wait until today to write this post as I don't like to think about Christmas until December. One of my Christmas card designs is featured on the gibson holt blog and they are also searching for freelance pattern and surface designers for 2015. Closing date for submissions is 1st January if you are interested. Details can be found here.

Inspiration

I've been thinking about this subject for a while as I've been devoid of any! I thought it might be interesting to show where I get my inspiration from (when it comes), and how I use ideas to create designs. This pattern was inspired a photo of knitted materials found when flicking through old magazines.

© 2011 nicky linzey

Print & Pattern

It's been a long time from my designs being selected to feature in the fantastic Print & Pattern book to actually having the published book in my hot little hand but well worth the wait! If you love pattern you'll love this book.

Inspired doodle

I love the work of Antonio Gaudi the Spanish architect and was recently given a set of books with beautiful photos of his work. They inspired me to do this doodle.

My obsession - at least one of them!

Stones from Bognor beach © Nicky Linzey 2007

It seems I'm obsessed with stones, but then I always have been. I can't resist them, so many catch my eye, their colour, their pattern, their texture. It's amazing that each beach I go to has it's own type of stone. The difference between these from Bognor and the ones I recently collected from Beesands is very noticeable, or maybe it's my choice of them. Does anyone ever go to the beach and not pick up a stone? I doubt it. I put them in my pocket and when I wear that coat months later, it's somehow comforting to put my hand in the pocket and feel the cold smooth pebble.

Stoned

My Beesands stones in colourful mode.

My adventure

Six months ago a friend and I decided to take a stand at The Garden Show, Stansted Park. I'm selling my prints, cards, jewellery and bowls and she's selling her beautiful handmade fabric bags, we've also bought in some colourful hand-dipped candles.

Well - the show has finally come around - it's on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we've actually got everything prepared. I feel a bit scared - it's years since I've stood in front of my work in this way. I'm also excited - it's a new challenge and although I'm lucky and design for a living - the work that I'm showing at the weekend is 100% me. I really want it to be successful so that it can become part of the way I earn my living. To physically make things and draw using a pen and paper is so rewarding compared to sitting at my computer all day.
A little mix of both would be great.

My lovely shoes

This is very trivial I know but I've just bought some shoes that I love and that doesn't happen very often. What I love about them is - they're unusual, pretty, comfy and they make me feel good! Made in Spain by The Art Company each one is hand finished - the insides have a flowery design too - so does the tissue paper they're wrapped in. It's great to see individual design creeping back into the high street after years of blandness.

Stop and stare 2

I've been a fan of Thomas Heatherwick's work since I watched a programme about him and saw the Rolling Bridge at Paddington Basin - it's incredible. So I was delighted when I heard that he was commissioned to design a building at Littlehampton, East Beach Café - his first building in the UK. I went to see it yesterday and although not yet finished it looks fantastic, a structured steel shell, finished with a rust patination and open to the sea by a wall of glass windows. The Café will be opening in June and serving the kind of food I love - fish pie, potted shrimps, fish cakes . . . I can't wait. It's great to see unusual things that make me stop and stare.

It's not like it used to be

Success at last - drying in the sun

I used to make paper mache bowls years ago so thought I'd have another go - I need to use the tissue designs after all. Something was not right, I used the same recipe as I'd always done - wallpaper paste with newspaper, then when I'd built up enough layers and the bowl was finished and dry I'd paint on PVA glue and decorate it. However this time the bowls were warping and the layers separating - I'm sure that newsprint has changed, the quality is not as good, that or the glue - I mean you can stick a man to the ceiling with it but try sticking sheets of newsprint together. I eventually had some success using the TV guide - the paper was a bit firmer and has a slight sheen. These are the results . . .

©2007 Nicky Linzey

The Ripple Effect

My first blog is a lot more daunting than anticipated - what to write? I've become obsessed with blogs as recently I've come across so many wonderful ones that have inspired me. They definitely cause a ripple effect, one leads to another, that one to another etc. - just think how many people are being inspired to be creative. My favourite one at the moment and the one that gave me the impetus to start this is print and pattern - pages and pages of great patterns put together from stores and designers, I could look at it all day!

I work from home which is great but quite anti-social - a week can go by & I realise that I have not spoken to anyone face-to-face except my partner, Gray and if I go outside I feel quite faint with the rush of fresh air! So the network & support of fellow bloggers that I see on some sites appeals to me.

I had a lovely day yesterday, the weather was cold, wet and windy so I lit a fire and lazed by it all afternoon. I found some chocolates I'd bought on Valentines Day in one of my favourite shops in Arundel, Sparks Yard, they were in a cupboard and I'd obviously forgotten all about them, they looked so pretty that I photographed them, drew them & then ate them while toasting my feet by the fire.

©2007 Nicky Linzey

© 2005 Nicky Linzey

My sleepy Jack Russell by the fire